The Raiders look to start their season off with a win Friday night at home at 6 p.m. It’s an exciting new team looking to shock the conference. Their opponent Friday night is an Irvine College team who will be a solid test for the Raiders.

The Moorpark College Men’s Volleyball team is very new and very young with only two returning sophomores. Moorpark finished fourth last season and will be looking to improve on that to at least third to qualify for playoffs.

The team’s youth will help them keep high energy levels, but the freshmen will have to learn quickly if they want to compete in this conference.The two returning sophomores, middle hitter Brandon Kohler, and libero Jose Rojas, will lead the team as co-captains as they help the new players on the court.

When asked about the team, Kohler described them as a “tight knit group” and felt confident that their chemistry would be a big factor in helping the team play well.

“I love all of them, they’re like a bunch of little brothers,” said co-captain Jose Rojas of his new freshmen teammates.

Off the court the Raiders will have the expertise of Steve Burkhart, coach of the Raiders for 21-years, to shape the new recruits into a playoff worthy team. Burkhart feels good about this years’ team and, like always, has his eyes set on playoffs. But before they can get there, the Raiders have a lot of learning to do.

The beginning of the season may be “a little painful” as Burkhart says, but if the players stick in there and work hard like they have been all preseason, he expects to see great progress.

They will play Irvine College in a Pacific Coast vs. Western State showdown.The Raiders are ready to start their season, and would appreciate any support, so if you are free Friday at 6 p.m., then go on out to Raider Pavilion and cheer on the home team!